After nearly three months of adrenaline and excitement, the 2024 Alianza de Futbol Tour concluded at the Westside Soccer Complex in El Paso, Texas. The 20th edition of the largest amateur soccer tournament in the United States ended with an authentic sports celebration, having toured key cities such as Dallas, San Antonio, Colorado Springs, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Jose.

Alianza brought together 217,852 people in eight cities, offering high-level soccer as well as various activities and surprises for all attendees.

19,852 soccer players participated in Verizon Copa Alianza, Ford Copita Alianza, ViX Alianza Femenil, and Alianza 5v5 tournaments. Additionally, 3,967 young athletes participated in the Allstate Sueño Alianza tryouts, seeking an opportunity to break into professional soccer. These tryouts have become a key platform for scouting young talents by clubs and national teams from Mexico and the United States. Teams such as Chivas, América, Pachuca, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, and the Mexican Football Federation were present, searching for future stars.

Dreams on the Horizon

For many young participants, the Tour wasn't just a tournament but a chance to pursue their biggest dream: becoming professional soccer players. This year, Jonathan González, a 2014 Allstate Sueño Alianza graduate and current player for Bravos de Ciudad Juárez, was the special guest in El Paso. He recalled how he was in the same position as today's hopefuls a decade ago. González spent time with players and fans, encouraging the new generation not to give up on their dreams.

Growth of the Tour

The 2024 Tour returned to two iconic locations: San Antonio and Colorado Springs. These cities have vibrant Latino communities that enthusiastically fill the sports complexes with fans and players. Throughout the circuit, the tournaments were not only a showcase for sports talent, but also a gathering place for families, with activities organized by Ford, Verizon, King's Hawaiian, and Chobani, as well as live broadcasts of Copa América and Eurocup matches on giant screens.

Legendary Mexican soccer figures such as Carlos Salcido, Omar Bravo, and Jared Borgetti were among the notable names accompanying the different tour stops. These soccer stars brought stories of success that inspired the younger players.

The Final Weekend in El Paso

The final weekend in El Paso was the setting for the most anticipated finals of the year. Teams from various cities competed in intense matches, with Mal Toque Juárez standing out for their victory in the Verizon Copa Alianza U-23, winning $5,000 after defeating Shico Soccer Municipio 2-0.

In Ford Copita Alianza, which saw over 2,600 players across 134 teams in different categories, the champion teams included Dragones FC in the U7 category, Royals El Paso in U12 Girls, and Toros FC Ceproffa in U19, among others.

The Alianza 5v5 tournament also shone, with four champions, including Academia Futbol Infantil in U10 and FC Cabezones in U14. Finally, in the ViX Alianza Femenil women's tournament, the players from Cascaras FC were crowned champions after a dramatic 6-5 victory over SOSA FC.

Dreams at Stake

The Allstate Sueño Alianza tryouts again became one of the event's highlights. With 583 young athletes participating in El Paso alone, the dream of reaching professional soccer was more alive than ever. Michael Pérez, born between 2010 and 2012, was the most sought-after player. He received invitations from clubs such as Chivas, Toluca, and Bravos de Ciudad Juárez, securing his spot in the National Showcase at IMG Academy in Florida, the next big stage where these young players' dreams could come true.

With 33 direct invitations to clubs, El Paso concluded an unforgettable edition of the Alianza de Futbol Tour, solidifying this event as a benchmark for talent development and uniting communities through soccer.

The 20th edition of Alianza de Futbol 2024 proved once again that dreams, talent, and the passion for soccer know no borders.

 

September 09, 2024